New gardens refresh city's crematorium grounds

Tuesday August 5 2014

"The new professionally landscaped garden design provides a more
fitting setting for those gathering to remember the lives of those
who have passed on," says Brian Way, leisure assets officer. "They
also give people more options for creating a lasting tribute to
their loved ones."

Installing the first stage of the new circular Garden Kerb plots
is complete. The next stage will include a low memorial wall and
begins in spring. The changes will enhance the Crematorium and give
people more options for memorialising their loved ones
including:
• Small granite or bronze plaques in the new wagon wheel
area.
• Plaque-only or burial of ash options.
• Scattering ashes in designated gardens and tree
areas.
• Burying ashes in an existing fully-occupied burial
plot.
Brian says that previously, some people opting to scatter loved
ones ashes did so in the rose gardens immediately outside the
Crematorium. The soil was carefully removed, stored and was used to
fill sections of the new 'wagon wheel' gardens. The same process
will be followed during stage two when another couple of rose
gardens will be replaced.

Kelvin Grove Cemetery is situated on 36 hectares of park-like
surroundings in James Line off Napier Road. It opened in 1927, the
Crematorium and Chapel were added in 1954. The cemetery provides
services for around 180 burials and 400 cremations each year.

The city's other cemeteries are Terrace End, which is now closed
for sale of new plots, although people with existing family plots
may still be buried there, and the Ashhurst Cemetery. Recently,
responsibility for the former Bunnythorpe Trust Cemetery was
transferred to Palmerston North City Council.